Alex Neil has acknowledged that, although he was seduced by the chance to play European football at Ibrox and win trophies, he intended to sign Rangers star Dujon Sterling to Stoke City last summer.
After spending the previous season on loan at the Bet365 Stadium, Neil was pleased with his one-on-one skills and his handling of the most dangerous players on the other team.
Neil even went so far as to say that the right-back turned midfielder has everything you could possibly desire and is among the best defensive players he has ever had under his tutelage.
Neil stated in an interview with the Daily Record on March 26 that “we wanted to sign him ourselves.” We made an attempt prior to him joining Rangers, but the allure of playing football in Europe and the chance to win awards proved too great for him.
Last year, I brought him to Stoke, and he performed wonderfully for us. He’s really good physically, and defensively, he’s among the greatest I’ve had. He possesses every quality you could wish.
“Dujon dealt with any opponent player we considered might pose a threat to our team. We felt that way about him. Since you are unable to escape him, he might just negate any threats.
“He performed admirably. Last year, when facing up against any opponent one-on-one, he emerged victorious.
Alex Neil gushes over Rangers ace Dujon Sterling
It was a slow start to his career at Ibrox after arriving under Michael Beale amid a host of uninspiring new arrivals, and Sterling was, perhaps unfairly, lumped in with that crowd. However, since Beale’s exit, he has stepped up.
Recently, Derek Ferguson expressed his frustration to Ibrox News about the 24-year-old’s lack of regular playing time, saying that he should be utilised more frequently as a stand-in for injured players.
Since Philippe Clement joined the team, Sterling has taken on a much more significant role. His versatility has been crucial during the injury problem at Ibrox, as he has filled in at centre midfield and on the right wing, among other positions.
This has also given him greater influence over the first team, as right-back Sterling usually plays second to captain James Tavernier, which makes it challenging for him to play the role he wants.
Despite this, he has received great appreciation for his performances, and given that he signed for free, Rangers can view this as a good deal thus far.
A “huge” update on Adballah Sima’s injury has surfaced in other Rangers news.
